DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the polycarbonate resin contained in the core layer" in lines 6-7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim since the polycarbonate being in the core layer has not been previously established.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the polycarbonate resin contained in one of the first and second skin layers" in lines 7-8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim since the polycarbonate resin contained in one of the first and second skin layers has not been previously established.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 1-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Aoki et al. (US 6,492,015) in view of Li et al. (US 2016/0082693).
Aoki discloses a co-extruded sheet containing a polycarbonate resin, comprising: a core layer formed from a foam resin; a first skin layer formed from a non-foaming resin and laminated to one major surface of the core layer; and a second skin layer laminated to another major surface of the core layer in a heat-resistant receptacle (column 1, line 62 through column 2, line 2, column 3, line 56 through column 4, line 44, column 5, line 21 through column 6, line 15, Example 9).
Aoki does not disclose wherein a melt volume-flow rate of the polycarbonate resin contained in the core layer (hereinafter referred to as MVRc) and a melt volume-flow rate of the polycarbonate resin contained in one of the first and second skin layers (hereinafter referred to as MVRs) satisfy the following expression:
1.5 ≤ MVRs/MVRc ≤ 8.0, or 2.5, or 2.3.
Li discloses wherein a melt volume-flow rate of a polypropylene resin contained in the core layer (hereinafter referred to as MVRc) and a melt volume-flow rate of a polypropylene resin contained in one of the first and second skin layers (hereinafter referred to as MVRs) satisfy the following expression: 1.5 ≤ MVRs/MVRc ≤ 8.0, or 2.5, or 2.3 (since MFR = Density x MVR, wherein density is a constant since the materials of the skin and core layers are the same) (paragraphs [0069] – [0070]) in a heat-resisting receptacle (paragraphs [0003 – 0004]) for the purpose of minimizing crystallization of the unexpanded skin layer at the expansion temperature of the expanded core layer, prevent undesirable shrinkage of the skin layers and prevent wrinkling (paragraphs [0069 – 0070].
Both references are drawn to heat resistant receptacles.
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time applicant’s invention was made to have provided wherein a melt volume-flow rate of the polycarbonate resin contained in the core layer (hereinafter referred to as MVRc) and a melt volume-flow rate of the polycarbonate resin contained in one of the first and second skin layers (hereinafter referred to as MVRs) satisfy the following expression: 1.5 ≤ MVRs/MVRc ≤ 8.0, or 2.5, or 2.3 in Aoki in order to minimize crystallization of the unexpanded skin layer at the expansion temperature of the expanded core layer, prevent undesirable shrinkage of the skin layers and prevent wrinkling as taught or suggested by Li.
Aoki also discloses wherein the co-extruded sheet has an apparent density of 0.4 to 0.8 g/cm³, wherein the co-extruded sheet has a thickness of 1.5 to 6 mm, wherein the co-extruded sheet satisfies the following expression: 0.10 ≤ (t1+t2)/T ≤ 0.5, 11 indicates a thickness of the first skin layer, 12 indicates a thickness of the second skin layer, and T indicates a thickness of the co-extruded sheet, a resin-molded product made from the co-extruded (column 1, line 62 through column 2, line 2, column 3, line 56 through column 4, line 44, column 5, line 21 through column 6, line 15, Example 9).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL C MIGGINS whose telephone number is (571)272-1494. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 1-9 pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Aaron Austin can be reached at 571-272-8935. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICHAEL C MIGGINS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1782
MCM
January 14, 2026